New York Only State In Nation That Limits Resident Work Hours

Albany, June 26, 2002 – The New York State Health Department (the Department) today announced that 54 of the 82 teaching hospitals inspected in New York State since November 2001 were cited for violations related to resident working hours. To date, New York University Hospital ($24,000) has been fined for recurring resident work hour violation. The Department is now reviewing the results of the inspections of other hospitals to determine if fines are warranted.

State Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello said, "The results of the initial inspections of State teaching hospitals further build on Governor Pataki's commitment to ensure that New York continues to have the best and safest health care system in the nation. New York is the only State in the nation that limits resident work hours and ensures that residents have adequate rest. The Governor has made it clear that hospitals need to comply with resident working hours and he has provided us with the resources to inspect and the tools to fine hospitals that are not complying with the regulations."

"It is also critical that the residents providing the care to patients receive necessary training and experience under appropriate working conditions. The State's work with hospitals in this area will further strengthen the capabilities of New York's physicians and hospitals to deliver high quality care to patients."

To ensure that resident working hour regulations were being followed at State teaching hospitals, Governor Pataki included funding in the Health Care Reform Act of 2000 (HCRA 2000) to support inspections that focus on resident working hours. The current surveillance initiative, which is supported by funding from HCRA 2000, is being conducted by the Island Peer Review Organization (IPRO) pursuant to a contract with the Department of Health.

As part of their surveillance, IPRO inspectors conduct interviews with residents and other appropriate hospital staff, observe resident working conditions and review both medical records and operating room logs to determine each hospital's compliance.

IPRO also investigates complaints regarding resident working hours, conducts revisits where appropriate and is continuing its efforts to conduct annual focus surveys at New York's 115 teaching hospitals. IPRO is under contract with New York State through September 2004.

New York is the only State in the nation to limit resident work hours. To help strengthen patient safety and quality assurance practices in hospitals statewide, and particularly in New York's teaching hospitals, New York State limits the working hours of physicians enrolled in residency training programs to no more than 80 hours per week, averaged over a four-week period. Residents are also limited to working no more than 24 consecutive hours in a given day. Residents in emergency departments with more than 15,000 unscheduled visits annually are further limited to working no more than 12 consecutive hours without time off.

Overall, the survey results for the 82 teaching hospitals inspected by IPRO from November 1, 2001 through June 21, 2002 found that approximately:

Sixty-six percent (66%) were cited for resident working hour violations;

Fifty-six percent (56%) were found in violation of the resident working hour limit of no more than 24 consecutive hours without time off;

Thirty-four percent (34%) were found in violation of the 80-hour work week limits for residents;

Twenty-three percent (23%) were cited for not providing residents with one full day off from work, which would constitute 24 hour consecutive hours off from work; and

Thirteen percent (13%) did not ensure that residents were provided required hours off between scheduled work assignments.

Governor Pataki's HCRA 2000 legislation increased fines on teaching hospitals for non-compliance of resident working hours. The Department may impose a maximum fine of $6,000 per violation against hospitals cited for resident working hour violations. In subsequent cases, hospitals cited for recurring violations would face a maximum fine of $25,000 for a second offense and $50,000 for a third offense. Prior to HCRA 2000 legislation, the maximum fine was $2,000 per violation.

The following hospitals were cited for resident working hour violations. The range and significance of the citations issued varied greatly. Those facilities with the most significant findings (most egregious or widespread deficiencies) are subject to financial penalties. Other facilities may have been cited for isolated incidents and will not be fined. All facilities will be required to submit acceptable plans of correction. Facilities will be subject to follow-up surveys to ensure implementation of effective corrective actions.

Hospital

County

Albany Medical Center

Albany

Binghamton General Hospital

Broome

Wilson Hospital, United Health Services

Broome

Montefiore Medical Center - A. Einstein College Div.

Bronx

Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center

Clinton

Children's Hospital of Buffalo

Erie

Erie County Medical Center

Erie

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital - Amherst

Erie

Sisters of Charity Hospital

Erie

Brookdale Hospital and Medical Center

Kings

Brooklyn Hospital Center - Downtown Campus

Kings

Coney Island Hospital

Kings

Kings County Medical Center

Kings

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center

Kings

Long Island College Hospital

Kings

Lutheran Medical Center

Kings

New York Methodist Hospital

Kings

St. Mary's Hospital of Brooklyn

Kings

University Hospital of Brooklyn

Kings

Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Hospital

Kings

Rochester General Hospital

Monroe

Strong Memorial Hospital

Monroe

Franklin Hospital Medical Center

Nassau

Nassau University Medical Center

Nassau

North Shore University Hospital - Glen Cove

Nassau

North Shore University Hospital - Manhasset

Nassau

South Nassau Communities Hospital

Nassau

Winthrop University Hospital

Nassau

Hospital for Special Surgery

New York

Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Disease

New York

Mount Sinai Hospital

New York

New York University - Hospital for Joint Disease

New York

New York University - Tisch Hospital

New York

North General Hospital

New York

St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center

New York

Community General Hospital of Syracuse

Onondaga

Crouse Hospital

Onondaga

University Hospital - SUNY Health Science Center

Onondaga

Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn - Mary Immaculate

Queens

City Hospital Center at Elmhurst

Queens

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Queens

Long Island Jewish Medical Center

Queens

New York Flushing Hospital Medical Center

Queens

New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens

Queens

Peninsula Hospital

Queens

St. John's Episcopal Hospital of South Shore

Queens

St. John's Queens Hospital

Queens

St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center

Queens

St. Vincent's Hospital of Staten Island

Richmond

Southside Hospital

Suffolk

University Hospital of Stony Brook

Suffolk

Mount Vernon Hospital

Westchester

Sound Shore Medical Center

Westchester

Westchester Medical Center

Westchester

The following hospitals were found to be in compliance with resident working hour regulations: